Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the Union government's flagship healthcare initiatives, including Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi Kendras, have helped citizens save nearly ₹2.25 lakh crore in medical expenses. Speaking at a public gathering in Daman, the Prime Minister highlighted the impact of welfare schemes on improving healthcare access and reducing financial burdens on poor and middle-class families across the country.

The Prime Minister made the remarks after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth ₹2,970 crore in the Union Territory. He said healthcare remains one of the government's top priorities and described the improvement in the lives of the poor, deprived sections, tribal communities and the middle class as a key benchmark of development under the NDA government.

Highlighting the achievements of the Ayushman Bharat programme, Modi said the scheme has significantly expanded health insurance coverage in India. He noted that eligible beneficiaries receive health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh and that even economically weaker citizens now have access to free treatment through the Ayushman Card. According to the Prime Minister, health insurance coverage has increased dramatically compared to the period before 2014, when fewer than 30 per cent of families were covered under such schemes.

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Modi also pointed to complementary healthcare initiatives such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Jan Aushadhi Kendras and digital health services. He said these measures have collectively improved healthcare delivery while lowering out-of-pocket expenditure for millions of families. The Prime Minister added that the savings generated through Ayushman Cards and affordable medicines available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras have provided substantial financial relief to households.

Citing improvements in public health indicators, Modi said institutional deliveries now account for more than 90 per cent of births in India, while child immunisation coverage has increased from around 60 per cent before 2014 to nearly 90 per cent. He credited these gains to sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure and government welfare programmes aimed at expanding access to essential medical services.

The Prime Minister further highlighted the expansion of healthcare facilities in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, including the establishment of a medical college, postgraduate courses and NAMO hospitals in Silvassa and Daman. He said these developments would strengthen healthcare services in the region, while noting that women have been among the biggest beneficiaries of reforms through improved maternal healthcare, institutional deliveries and broader health coverage.

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